This Day in Jack Benny
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515 episodes
March 29, 1936 - Jack Benny talks with the gang about the American East vs the West does his version of Cinderella with him as the title character "Cinderallen". References include the Dionne quintuplets, movie stars Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Shirley Temple, Mae West, Herald Lloyd, Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers, singers Bing Crosby and Lanny Ross, plus Fred Allen, the Crime Club program, Dracula, and Victor Hugo's Les Misérables.
March 22, 1953 - A walk through Beverly Hills. Jack Benny has recovered from the Flu and is getting ready for his TV show. They mention former president Hoover, "The Sheik of Araby" silent film star Rudolph Valentino, Bendix Washing Machine, and 3-D Movies.
March 14, 1948 - Winner of the Walking Man Contest and "Truth or Consequences" host Ralph Edwards are the guests on this episode. References inlcue Radio Mirror magazine the radio show "Bride and Groom", the movie "The Naked City, Oscar winner Ronald Colman "Life of Riley" character Digger O'Dell, Fred Allen, and voice actors Blanch Stewart and Mel Blanc.
March 7, 1948 - The Walking Man Contest from has ended and the secret is out; Jack Benny is The Walking Man. References include Sophie Tucker, Van Johnson and radio shows Stella Dallas, Portia Faces Life, and The Judy Canova Show.
February 29, 1948 - Jack's Girlfriend Gladys Comes To Studio References include the songs "Near You", "The Freedom Train", and "South America Take it Away", the songwriter Stephen Foster, movie star Errol Flynn, former President Grover Cleveland, and for the commercials the Sportsmen spoof Al Jolson singing "Sonny Boy".
February 21, 1943 - From Chicago, Jack Benny broadcasts from the Army Air Force's Technical Training Center with guest bandleader Bob Crosby, brother of Bing Crosby. The program is briefly preempted by a message from the OPA about rationing. They mention Fred Allen, Hedy Lamarr and historical Navy Admiral George Dewey.
February 14, 1943 - Jack's Birthday From Toronto, Canada with guest conductor Allan McIver and His All-Canadian Orchestra. References include Prime Minister Mackenzie King, comedian Fred Allen, Halifax-born singer and dancer Ruby Keeler (Or actress Ruby Stevens better known as Barbara Stanwick) and the song Blues in the Night.
February 7, 1943 - Jack is late and guest George Jessel subs for Jack. References include Fred Allen (with a clip of Oscar levant talking about playing with Jack Benny at Carnegie Hall), Abbot and Costello, Benny Rubin and Joe Lewis.
January 31, 1943 - Broadcast from Quantico Marine Base, Virginia with the actress Virginia Bruce, director Gegory Ratoff and guest band the McFarland twins. References include the movie "Casablanca", and the Casablanca Confrence with FDR and Churchill.
January 23, 1938 - Jack Benny plays a newspaper man in this week's drama. References include detective Charlie Chan, movie stars, Paul Muni, Clark Gable, Robet Taylor, Bing Crasby, Carole Lombard, Greta Garbo and Gale Patrick. Also magazines and
January 16, 1955 - Jack Doesn't Have a Script, adapted from the January, 12, 1941 episode. A very funny episode where Jack Benny talks to his writers and tries to get them to finish the script as the show is on the air. References include, the mumps (a childhood illness), writers Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck, comedian Fred Allen, The Hall Johnson Choir, the song "Mighty Lak' a Rose" and Amos 'n' Andy.
January 10, 1943 - The Sixty-Four Dollar Question, Jack Benny is in New York with guest conductor Benny Goodman. Then Jack visits "Take It or Leave It" host Phil Baker to try to get the money he had lost on that game show. References include the waretime Victory Tax, comedians Bob Hope and Fred Allen, stage actress and singer Lillian Russel, the movies "Random Harvest" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls",
November 8, 1942 - was the game show where the prize money doubled with each question. In this bonus episode Jack Benny plays it strait as a contestant.
January 3, 1943 - Broadcasting from Bangor, Maine for an audience of soldiers. Guest bandleader Abe Lyman. References include singer Rudy Vallee, boxer Lou Nova, and actresses Hedy Lamarr and Lana Turner.
December 20, 1945 - Command Performance hosted by Dennis Day with Jack Benny, singer June Christy, novelty band the Hossier Hotshots and movie star Rita Hayworth
December 12, 1937 - The first Christmas shopping episode! Jack Benny says he is a gambler, then goes Christmas shopping at a department store with Mary. References include punchboards, the rado show "Lum and Abner", Popeye, and Shirley Temple dolls.
December 25, 1949 - Jack Benny is the guest star in this radio adaptation of the movie "The Man Who Came to Dinner". Merry Christmas and enjoy the show!
November 26, 1950 - Jack tries to buy tickets to the USC-UCLA game. Phil Harris plays a part in an episode of the Lux Radio Theater. References include J Edgar Hoover, Albert Einstein, Ronald Colman, Skitch Henderson, Faye Emerson (and her wardrobe malfunction), the movie "King Solomon's Mines", and the Whiffenpoof song (We are poor little lambs who have lost our way).
November 20, 1949 - Jack goes to rehearsal and runs into TV comedian Ed Wynn and Dennis Day's replacement Larry Stevens. References include General Bradley, the coal strike, the song "Mule Train", the Crosley millions contest, the musical "South Pacific", Al Jolson, Buster Keaton, Margret O'Brien and Keenan Wynn.
November 13, 1949 - Last week's mistakes. Jack visits Ronald Coleman on a movie set. The movie was "Champagne for Caesar", directed by Richard Whorf. References include the song "Mule Train", the Notre Dame college football team, comedian Red Skelton, and orchestra conductor Arturo Toscanini.
November 6, 1949 - Jack rides in a yacht and Rochester guest stars on the program in the episode "Friendly Loan Company". References include the high price of coffee, True Confessions magazine, princess Margret, the song "Mule Train", Popeye cartoons, comedians Milton Berle and Fred Allen, movie stars Gary Cooper, Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn and Joan Crawford, the movies "Mutiny on the Bounty" and "Wabash Avenue",
November 2, 1941 - Halloween celebration with guest star Basil Rathbone as himself. Jack and the gang are making mischief on Halloween. References include the animal trapper Frank Buck, and movie stars Claudette Colbert, Charles Laughton, Ronald Colman, and Charles Boyer.
October 24, 1937 - Jack Buys the Maxwell and they do thier version of the movie "Wife, Doctor and Nurse" starring Loretta Young, Waren Baxter, and Virginia Bruce. References include the steam-powered vehicle called The Stanley Steamer.
October 12, 1947 - Jack's Sponsor Buys Insurance On Him. This is a very funny episode! So funny that the script was reused May 24, 1953. References include the movie "Mother Wore Tights", the burlesque dance Gypsy Rose Lee, and the first televised presidential address in wich Truman asks the American people to conserve food to help feed starving people in Europe.
October 10, 1937 - Jack Benny and the gang discuss the reviews of last week's opening broadcast. References include Lily Pons, Eddie Cantor, Fred Astaire, movies "Artists and Models", "This Way Please" and "High, Wide and Handsome". Plus Abe Lyman returns.
October 3, 1937 - Beginning Of 4th Season for Jello and we compair the east coast and west coast broadcasts. References include ocean liners, Dracula, actresses Loretta Young and Marline Deitrich, and boxer Jack Dempsey.
March 21, 1937 - From New York Jack Benny plays his own father in the story of his life. References include Kenny Baker and Phil Harris' upcoming movie "Turn off the Moon", Minsky's Burlesque nightclub, and old songs "(My) Pony Boy" and "In the Good Old Summertime".
February 24, 1937 - The Fred Allen Show during the height of the Benny/Allen Feud featured a production all about Jack Benny.
Terry Phillips is a former CBS reporter who, in 1983 had a chance to interview the great Mel Blanc. Terry is also the producer of a audio drama podcast called and his new play "Ronald Reagan Saves the World" premiered last week at the Center Stage Theater in Santa Barbara, California. Mel Blanc Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fsWZVbLllQ Imagine Air Theater here: https://www.imagine-air-theater.com Ronald Reagan Saves the World https://www.reaganplay.com
December 28, 1945 - Jack Benny is the guest on Bill Stern's Sports Newsreel. June 7, 1946 - Eddie "Rochester" Anderson is the guest on Bill Stern's Sports Newsreel. Bonus - Paul Harvey's Rest of the Story segment.
